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Hendrickson back with O's after birth of daughter

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By Brittany Ghiroli
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MLB.com |

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Reliever Mark Hendrickson was back in the Orioles' clubhouse Saturday after leaving Wednesday for the birth of his third daughter, Sophia.

"I was in line at Southwest and kept the volume down because I was like, 'All right, I'm sure she doesn't want people to see what's going on,'" said Hendrickson, who was following the delivery using social media. "All of a sudden, I get on the plane and the Wifi doesn't work, and I get a picture of Mommy and baby. I was like, 'All right, that's a cool photo.'"

While Hendrickson was disappointed to miss the birth, it was still a special moment for the couple when he arrived at the hospital and saw his wife and their new baby. Sophia is the Hendricksons' third child -- all girls -- and the 38-year-old smiled and said he wouldn't have it any other way.

"What's cool about it is a lot of guys have babies on this team, it brings us closer," he said. "I was even more excited because Diana Roberts told my wife that Brian, once he saw the pictures, was so excited for his [expectant] baby. And that's kind of neat, and I think brings us closer together as men, just because we are kind of going through the same stuff. So that's pretty cool."

Hendrickson last pitched in a spring game on March 15, but has been able to stay on somewhat of a schedule throwing-wise. He played catch Thursday at his home in York, Pa., and threw a side session Tuesday.